Mastering stock investing means understanding key factors like momentum to gauge price trends. In this article, we take a deep dive into Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) to uncover why momentum analysis is essential for smart investing.

You'll learn how to accurately measure GPK’s momentum, the critical financial metrics involved, and why blending value and momentum metrics could offer a sharper view of a stock’s true trajectory compared to its industry peers.

What Is Stock Momentum?

Momentum measures the speed of a stock’s price change. Momentum investing is based on the idea that stocks with strong relative strength – meaning they outperform other stocks – are likely to continue doing so. Relative strength compares a stock’s price change to a benchmark or group of stocks, making it a key indicator of momentum.

As an example, if shares of Graphic Packaging Holding Company appreciate by 10% and shares of a competitor rise by 8% over the same period, Graphic Packaging Holding Company has better relative strength because its stock performed better.

There are two common ways to calculate relative strength.

• Percentage Change Comparison: Divide a stock’s percentage price change over a set period by the percentage change in a market index over the same timeframe.
• Percentile Ranks: Compare a stock’s relative strength against all stocks in a database, ranking its performance over specific timeframes like 13 weeks, 26 weeks, and 52 weeks.

Stocks outperforming in these periods often continue to do so for a year or longer.

Be aware that price increases do not always correspond to strong relative strength. So, even a stock that is rapidly rising in price may have weak relative strength if the market is rising faster than the stock.

Likewise, a stock that is falling in price will show positive relative strength if it is declining more slowly than the overall market.

How to Measure Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Momentum With AAII’s Stock Grades

AAII A+ Investor subscribers can view stock grades based on the momentum factor for any company. The Momentum Grade ranks companies using the weighted four-quarter relative strength price change for each of the past four quarters. The most recent quarterly price change is given a weighting of 40% and each of the three previous quarters are given a weighting of 20%.

This weighted relative strength value translates into a Momentum Score, which corresponds to the Momentum Grade and a level of strength.

The relative price strength rank calculates how well a stock has performed compared to all other U.S.-listed stocks over a given period. A relative price strength rank of 47 means that its weighted four-quarter return ranks in the 47th percentile of all U.S.-listed stocks, with higher emphasis given to the relative performance over the most recent quarter compared to the previous three quarters. Higher values are assigned to the better-performing stocks; lower values are assigned to the poorer-performing stocks. The relative strength rank only considers how a stock’s price changes compared to the performance of other stocks; it does not directly measure the actual change in price. A stock can decline in price and still have a high relative strength rank if it declined less than most other stocks.

For each rank, the values range from 0 to 100, with 0 signaling the worst relative performance and 100 signaling the highest relative performance.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Momentum Score

Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) has earned a grade of F for momentum. Its weighted relative strength of -26.5% translates into a Momentum Score of 7, indicating Very Weak momentum.

The Momentum Score in the second column is the relative strength percentile rank. Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s relative price strength rank of 7 means that its weighted four-quarter return ranks in the 7th percentile of all U.S.-listed stocks. This score reflects the percentage ranking of a stock’s weighted four-quarter relative strength compared to the weighted four-quarter relative strength of all other stocks.

The GPK column is the actual relative strength for the stock, first for the weighted four-quarter period and then for each of the individual quarters.

The Momentum Grade is based on the Momentum Score’s quintile. The strongest (highest) 20% of Momentum Scores receive a grade of A, which is considered Very Strong.

Combining Value & Momentum to Evaluate Graphic Packaging Holding Company

Value investing focuses on buying stocks at discounted prices based on metrics like earnings, book value, and cash flow. Research shows that combining value and momentum strategies can lead to higher returns with lower risk than using either approach alone.

But why should you consider combining value with momentum?

Different Market Strengths:

• Value stocks perform well in uncertain markets when investors seek stability.
• Momentum stocks excel in growth markets when risk appetite is high.
• A mix of both reduces volatility across market cycles.

Diversification & Risk Reduction:

• Value and momentum strategies tend to move in opposite directions, balancing a portfolio.
• This combination lowers risk and helps minimize losses in downturns.
• Value works over long time horizons, while momentum captures short-term trends.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls:

• Momentum alone can lead to speculative stocks that lack fundamental support.
• Value alone can lead to “value traps”–stocks that remain undervalued for extended periods.
• A combined approach helps filter out weaker stocks and improves risk-adjusted returns.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s Value Score

AAII’s A+ Investor Value Score ranks stocks based on key valuation metrics, including:

• Price-to-Sales (P/S)
• Price-to-Earnings (P/E)
• Enterprise Value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA)
• Shareholder Yield
• Price-to-Book (P/B)
• Price-to-Free-Cash-Flow (P/FCF)

The score is variable, meaning it can consider all six ratios or, should any of the six ratios not be valid, the remaining ratios that are valid. To be assigned a Value Score, stocks must have a valid (non-null) ratio and corresponding ranking for at least two of the six valuation ratios.

As of March 27, 2026, Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) has a price-earnings ratio of 6.2. Graphic Packaging Holding Company has a price-to-sales ratio of 0.32. Their price-to-book-value ratio is 0.82. The EV/EBITDA is currently at 8.1. As of March 27, 2026, Graphic Packaging Holding Company does not have a valid price-to-free-cash-flow ratio. Finally, Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s shareholder yield is 6.4%.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company has a Value Score of 98. This translates to a Value Grade of A, which is considered Deep Value and signifies that the stock is trading at an Deep Value price.

Bottom Line: Does Graphic Packaging Holding Company Have Strong Momentum?

Strong price momentum has been associated with higher returns over the long term and works best with a portfolio of stocks. The relative strength measure can be revealing when looking for stock ideas and managing current holdings.

AAII can help to keep you informed of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK)’s Momentum Score and Grade. Not only do you get a letter grade, but you can also see the percentile rankings of the underlying data points. For context, we show Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s five main competitors in the Containers & Packaging industry and their letter grades. All grades are calculated and updated daily.

AAII tracks a number of screens that incorporate the momentum factor as measured by relative price strength; you can access these screens online as part of membership in the Stocks area of AAII.com.

All stocks exhibit price momentum, whether positive or negative and weak or strong. In the case of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK), the Momentum scores pulled on March 27, 2026, indicate that the stock may be losing momentum. Graphic Packaging Holding Company’s weighted relative strength value over the past four quarters is -26.5%, giving it a Momentum Score of 7. This translates into a Momentum Grade of F, which is considered Very Weak.

Additionally, it has earned a Value Grade of A with its Value Score of 98, which means it is in the Deep Value range. In evaluating Graphic Packaging Holding Company for both momentum and value, we have discovered that Graphic Packaging Holding Company is currently a Deep Value stock with Very Weak momentum.

Stock Analysis with AAII’s A+ Investor

Momentum and Value grades offer valuable insights, but A+ Investor provides a fuller, more comprehensive view of a stock’s potential. Subscribers gain access to Quality, Estimate Revisions, and Growth grades, giving a deeper understanding of each company.

Here’s how these additional grades enhance your analysis:

• Quality Grade: Evaluates a company’s financial stability and resilience.
• Estimate Revisions Grade: Tracks analyst forecast changes, signaling potential stock price shifts.
• Growth Grade: Measures a company’s expansion potential and long-term prospects.

These insights help you see the full picture when selecting or researching stocks–reducing blind spots and improving decision-making.

Don’t miss out on this invaluable tool for holistic stock analysis. Click here to subscribe to A+ Investor today and put every tool and resource you need for intelligent investing right at your fingertips.

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith, and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.